You could be over-washing your bra If you tend to put your lingerie in the washing machine too often and use heavy detergents, that could be the reason for the odor. The chemicals in these cleaning products can quickly build up and create a rather unpleasant smell.
A Tip To Stop The Stink
You should always let your bra breathe after use. It can be easy to leave it scrunched up in your bag after a workout, but that creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Let it air dry. Or even better, pop it in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer until laundry day.
Why does my bra still stink after I wash it? Overuse will lead to detergent buildup, which in turn will lead to the development of a sort of mildew-y smell, because the soap combined with your sweat, oils, and dander creates a perfect environment for bacterial growth.
But keep in mind your bra is basically wedged in your pits all day long, so it collects sweat and bacteria — and that can cause a stink and break down the fabric. Dr. Gupta suggests rotating between a few bras each week so they have the chance to air out. Take your bra off at night, and wash it after a few wears.
To start, add a tablespoon of detergent to a gallon of cool water. Let your bras soak for about 15 minutes before rinsing them under cold water. (You can skip this step if you're using Soak or another no-rinse detergent.) Gently scrunch your bras to wring out excess water, and then leave them out to air-dry.
The best way to wash a bra is to wash it by hand using gentle detergent. If you don't have the time to hand wash your bras, you can machine wash them in a mesh lingerie bag on the delicate cycle with cold water.
How often you need to wash your bras isn't an exact science. But dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, says that as a general rule, you should wash them after every two to three wears.
"The 'rule' is that a bra should be washed after every wear, since it's directly in contact with the body," laundry expert Mary Marlowe Leverette told PureWow. "Body oils, perspiration, and bacteria are transferred to the fabric and if left in the fibers will begin to break down the fabric—especially elastic fibers."
Bromhidrosis is usually related to secretions by apocrine glands. But both types of sweat glands can lead to abnormal body odor. Apocrine glands are located primarily in the underarm, groin, and breast areas. Sweat from the apocrine glands tends to be thicker than that produced by the eccrine glands.
Check the care label first, but many bras are machine washable. All you need is a lingerie bag! If placed in the machine freely, bras and undergarments with lace details and trims can start to fray and unravel due to friction against other garments in the wash.
In addition to the gentlest detergent, it's also important to use the gentlest cycle when machine washing delicates. Only use cold water since hot water can cause colors to bleed and can affect the shape of your bras.
Washing your bras in the machine shortens their lifespan.
They're more likely to tear, either from the machine's agitation or from snagging on other items of clothing. The cups are more likely to lose their shape, especially on a t-shirt bra.
A good rule of thumb is three everyday bras: Two in a neutral color or skin tone shade. At least one darker color, like Black, Espresso, or Olive, for outfit variety.
"Our general rule: wash your bra for every three wears, assuming that you're wearing the bra only for 'normal' activity—that is, sitting at your desk as opposed to exercising," says Kunitomi.
Of course, you don't need anything fancy to hand-wash a bra; regular liquid laundry detergent is perfectly fine. “Gentle baby shampoo also works in a pinch,” Shotton says.
There's nothing wrong with wearing a bra while you sleep if that's what you're comfortable with. Sleeping in a bra will not make a girl's breasts perkier or prevent them from getting saggy. And it will not stop breasts from growing or cause breast cancer.
"On average, they own 16 at any one time, topping up their collection with four purchases each year." And then the story goes on to reveal that while we women have enough bras to go at least two weeks without doing laundry, on average we wash them only every two months.
“A pillowcase works as a great substitute for a lingerie bag. Toss your bras inside, tie a loose knot, and wash with lukewarm water on a gentle cycle,” says Macbale. Or, wash freely with delicates.
Soak new bras in one gallon warm water and 3/4 cup white vinegar for several hours or even overnight. (Don't worry you can't use too much vinegar and you won't smell the vinegar once the garment drys!) Put your lingerie into a laundry bag and wash on the delicate or handwash cycle in your washer. Hang to dry.
Once you've popped your bra inside a washbag, follow the care instructions but make sure you wash at 40 degrees or more, because anything colder won't cleanse properly. Wash on a delicate washing cycle and only use gentle detergent. Once done, carefully reshape the cups to ensure they stay in the correct position.
You should never use fabric softener when you wash your bras, as it can damage the elasticity. Soap is not a complete no-go, but if you are using detergent, it's best to use one that's as mild as possible – preferably one for delicate washes.
If you're throwing your bras in the machine, set to a gentle cycle and, when washing with other delicate pieces, separate the bras from underwear in lingerie bags. Another common overlook? Leaving hooks unclasped! Make sure your bras are secured in the bag to prevent snags or pulls.